Community Spotlight: Atlas & The Anderson Family
Meet the Andersons
This month, we are thrilled to shine our Community Spotlight on the Anderson family from Portland, Oregon! Last year, they welcomed Atlas, a charismatic Congo African Grey, into their home. We recently caught up with them to see how Atlas is thriving and to get their insights for new parrot owners.
A Feathered Family Member
Q: What was the first week with Atlas like?
The Andersons:Â “It was a learning curve for all of us! He was surprisingly calm when we brought him home, which we credit to his upbringing. He spent the first day quietly observing from his cage. By day three, he was eagerly asking for head scratches with a little âclick clickâ sound he makes. The detailed guide you provided was our bibleâit took the guesswork out of everything.”
Q: What is his favorite thing to do?
The Andersons:Â “Without a doubt, âhelpingâ with dinner. His cage is in a corner of our living room that overlooks the kitchen, and heâs our little supervisor. He loves to comment on everything. If he hears chopping, heâll say, âWhatcha doinâ?â and if the microwave beeps, he yells, âItâs ready!â He keeps us laughing every single day.”
Atlas the Conversationalist
Atlasâs vocabulary and understanding have exploded over the past year. His favorite phrases include:
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âGood morning, handsome!â (to greet everyone at sunrise)
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âI love you!â
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âWant a shower?â (He loves the sound of running water)
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[Mimics the exact sound of the iPhoneâs message sent swoosh]
The Andersons:Â “The most amazing thing isnât just that he talks, but that he uses words in context. He knows that âStep upâ means to get on your hand, and heâll tell our dog, âGo lay downâ in my wifeâs exact tone of voice. His ability to mimic sounds is uncanny; he does the tea kettle whistle perfectly.”
A Tip for New Owners
Q: Whatâs one piece of advice youâd give to someone bringing home their first African Grey?
The Andersons: “Patience. Donât force interaction. Let them set the pace at the beginning. And invest in foraging toys! We rotate his toys every few weeks and hide almonds in his foraging box. It keeps his brilliant mind busy and prevents boredom. The lifetime support from [Your Aviary Name] has been invaluable for questions along the way.”
